This is a beautiful story and probably only people already with a naturist bent will understand it. Most textile males - certainly the straight and single ones - will focus on "cute young chick playing naked in the woods" and wonder where they can get her phone number. Sexual harassment might ensue. Some women might take a pro-feminist message from it while others will dismiss her as a tart..
I could do the same story. Not quite word for word, but similar in many respects. Some people will focus on "old dude showing off his dick," even if it isn't visible. More people will be outraged by it - what about the children!?!? - but nobody will want to look me up for a hookup. Feminists in general will not be amused. Not sure how the men's rights movement will respond but the gay movement might support me.
Different genders, different ages, different reactions, often negative. Public naturists of either gender need a very thick skin and that's why there are so few of us.
It feels to me what you describe is a spiritual state, an elemental communing with the great mystic, the life force. I think many naturists tap into this whether they can name it or not ... the instinct to walk the green earth in the clothes we were born in ... powerful, restorative, source of wellbeing.
They say (who were “they” anyway?) that age compensates - as you get more wrinkly your eyesight goes so you can’t see the wrinkles! Damn modern science that offers such excellent sight correction. Yes, we are all so self-censorious about our perceived shortcomings, but another of those age-related benefits is one can cheerfully say “nah, so what, who cares?”
And actually, who does care? We all accentuate our shortcomings to ourselves, but most other people either don’t see them or don’t see them as shortcomings, so we worry over nothing.
Some unknown stranger in cyber world hiding behind a keyboard-name says something - their opinion is irrelevant, why let yourself get upset?
Jillian, you are spot on regarding the therapeutic effect of being in green spaces. Shinrin Yoku is the Japanese practice of what we call "forest bathing" - spending quiet time in a forest or other wilderness area being mindful of the environment by focussing on what reaches us through our five senses - sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. The practice actually came about during a period of mass urbanisation in Japan and an almost simultaneous rise in mental health issues. Promotion of Shinrin Yoku became a proved antedote to depression and some other mental illlnesses.
On the matter of "people who might be offended by your nudity", I take a totally different approach. Perhaps it's because of the different cultural attitudes between Canada / USA and New Zealand, or maybe because very few people here are actually offended by nudity, or it could even be simply that our laws are relaxed on that issue - I really don't know. But I don't "cover up" when hiking or swimming in national parks, forests, rivers, etc. I see that as totally counterproductive. On the one hand you maintain that the human body is inherently decent, honourable, and in no way obscene or offensive - yet you convey and reinforce the very opposite message to clothed people by letting them see you hastily cover yourself! How is covering up showing respect? Your body is either respectable or it's not. Which of those messages do you wish to convey? You can't convey both!
Here's the thing. Some people will choose to take offence at the most trivial of things, whether it's your clothes, your religion, your diet, your beliefs and practices. Even if you chose never to be naked again, people will still be offended by some other aspect of your life or actions. So you need to decide whether or not you're going to spend your entire life walking tiptoe on eggshells around other people to avoid upsetting their stupid sensitivities.
If someone is going to take offence at your naked body, then fine - they can be offended! What's the worse that can happen to them? They won't die! They won't catch a disease! They won't even feel a thing! Try going around to your neighbour's house when they are playing rap music and tell them that rap music is offensive to you and they should turn it off. What will they do? Turn it off and play Brahm's Lullaby instead? Good luck on that one!
Of all the people, singles, couples, friends and family groups that I've encountered over the years that I've spent hiking naked in the great outdoors, I could probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of people that showed any negative reaction.
People are far less often offended by our nakedness than we imagine. I've come to realise that the fear of nudity actually causing offence is far more imagined that it is real. We assume the worst. That manifests itself when you say you "cover up when you are near people who MIGHT be offended by your nudity." You don't know they will - you just assume it. And I would wager that in the vast majority of cases your assumption will be wrong.
"f someone is going to take offense at your naked body, then fine - they can be offended! What's the worse that can happen to them?"
It isn't the worse that can happen to them we worry about. It is the worst that can happen to us. The state of California doesn't have a law against nudity. Only a small number of local communities have an ordinance that amounts to a ticket and a fine. That will not stop some people from being so mortally offended they decide to make your life miserable. It won't stop a police officer from arresting you. Even if you end up being released without charges, that's a very bad experience. Just being ordered to dress "or else" is bad enough.
This is not my imagination. It is a fact.
The US has a powerful strain of Puritanism that feels entitled to harass those they think go beyond the Pale. The US is currently immersed in a culture war and this is part of it. The opposite extreme is just as miserable to encounter. There are people on both extremes of the political spectrum who define simple nudity as sexual violence.
Legal or not, it is only "safe" in America to be openly nude in an event/place where nudity is expected or you are so remote an encounter is unlikely. I seek these out and don't push my luck. Most people here don't have access to them.
You make some very good points here, which I would like to consider for a bit. But off the top of my head, if someone were offended by my public nudity, they could call the cops -- and given the law here concerning public nudity, it might result in a trip to the local provincial police detachment and a subsequent court date.
I hear you, Jillian. I don't know how the legislative system works in Canada - I suspect it's not as complex as the USA, but more so that ours, as we are only one country and one state, so we don't have the complexities of Federal and Provincial levels of law. But, for us, a clarification of the law and how it is applied by police has been hugely beneficial to us - both in permitting normal clothes-free recreation in public spaces, while weeding out the perverts. Perhaps it's time the Naturist groups in Canada became united in a push to do the same?
As others have said, this is a great article! I especially liked Ms. Berry's comments about "earthing."
We talk a lot about "respecting non-naturists." But why shouldn't that respect go both ways? Why are we the ones who have to limit our freedom? How is it that our natural bodies are more offensive than, say, an abusive argument in the town square?
Happy June to YOU too.. Yours as well as the one of Beatrice's articles are very nice, very well said & compel us to think a lot about.
Naturism when practiced in Nature is unmatched, unparalleled with huge health benefits. It has a most potential to heal our soul, mind & the body because of the soothing effects..Here every naturist will not have a second thought.. However for every naturists, it may not be feasible to remain naked in nature due to many many factors..You & few of the naturists are most lucky enough to experience the soothing effect by virtue of the nakedness in nature. Best wishes to you & Beatrice to always have this soothing experience.
As far as the offending someone because of our nakedness is a topic which we may discuss for decades & we may not conclude. As society is hugely diverse & as there will be mix of people it's very difficult to judge as to how people will react.
Very beautiful scenic images in both the articles.
I received two separate articles this week on the "third space". The first was generally about what a third space is, the second the third space being nudity.
It so fit how I feel being naked in nature.
It is almost spiritual to me. The state of relaxation and connection to my being is amazing.
I am hoping to go to a large resort this season. Supposedly 500 acres a lake and forest, nothing but relaxation and communing with nature.
hopefully another month and it will be warm enough.
I have a question, Jillian. I have been under the impression that the Criminal Code and its application to situations of public nudity on public lands well away from town will not involve charges as long as sexual intent cannot be proved in the exposure. I have this advice from a constable at the local detachment near where I live in BC.
My question is whether you (or others) have a different understanding of the law. I don't want to be breaking the law, but understand that my nude hiking on trails well away from residential areas (i.e. "Crown" lands) is a right (freedom of expression) under the Charter.
The laws may be different from province. For example, it is legal for women in Ontario to be topless in public, but it is illegal in Quebec.
As for nudity in Quebec, here is what the law says:
"Being nude in a public place without a valid reason is forbidden. It’s also forbidden to be nude on private property (such as a house) where other people can see you. For example, you can’t wash your car in your driveway if you have no clothes on."
I suppose you could take your chances on a trail in a provincial or federal park here. I haven't heard of anyone being arrested for it.
What was said about women being sexualized and men being seen as perverts. As a man that has always been foremost in my mind when naked in public places, where there are other people. That has never seemed right to me and it is an uncomfortable feeling always in the back of my mind. The only time I have truly been "comfortable" is when I've been in the company of a woman. Whether that be a girlfriend or just a friend. It's sad that it is this way. It definitely has restricted my nudism in the past and I'm sure will in the future
In my experience, if you are remote enough, nobody cares. I've been freehiking in the mountains around LA for 45 years. You're not a "pervert" unless you are likely to be seen. How you react to the other person also matters. I usually step well off the trail and do a quick coverup with a broad brimmed hat. If I say anything it is that I thought the trail was empty. Often they respond, conversation ensues and the hat goes back on my head.
There are also times and places where nudity is endemic, like Deep Creek Hot Springs. Or Naked Hiking day.
This may vary if you live in a conservative area.
It is probably true that if you have a female hiking partner (she doesn't have to be nude) you are less likely to be painted a threat. If you're in a group, the idea of being a nudist group will enter people's minds. It gives textiles a context to rationalize the nudity other than being a sexual predator.
There is a meme going about where a bunch of women who've never been on a remote trail in their lives will say they are more frightened of encountering a man in the woods than a bear. I don't know how many actually feel that way and how many are saying it to be fashionable but there are obviously women out there who consider men inherently threatening.
You tend not to meet those women in the remote wilderness. I am amazed the the number of solo female long hikers I meet on the PCT.
It's on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. This year it is June 20th. I plan to be in the mountains north of LA. It isn't illegal in LA County but you can be harassed if you are too close to civilization, so I stick with remote trails..
i really hated my body as a teen and ya, but i think (in hindsight) it was (maybe) someone from the naturism community?? (it was years ago so can't even remember the place exactly) that wrote up an article that talked about how they began to really like their body just by being naked and SEEING themselves. i thought it was really strange but then i tried it one day (and again and again) and i wish more ppl were comfortable with nudity (myself included!) because it really changed my perspective of myself and my body! also these pictures are so nice!! is this also CA?
This is a beautiful story and probably only people already with a naturist bent will understand it. Most textile males - certainly the straight and single ones - will focus on "cute young chick playing naked in the woods" and wonder where they can get her phone number. Sexual harassment might ensue. Some women might take a pro-feminist message from it while others will dismiss her as a tart..
I could do the same story. Not quite word for word, but similar in many respects. Some people will focus on "old dude showing off his dick," even if it isn't visible. More people will be outraged by it - what about the children!?!? - but nobody will want to look me up for a hookup. Feminists in general will not be amused. Not sure how the men's rights movement will respond but the gay movement might support me.
Different genders, different ages, different reactions, often negative. Public naturists of either gender need a very thick skin and that's why there are so few of us.
It feels to me what you describe is a spiritual state, an elemental communing with the great mystic, the life force. I think many naturists tap into this whether they can name it or not ... the instinct to walk the green earth in the clothes we were born in ... powerful, restorative, source of wellbeing.
Nicely said, Robert. I totally agree.
They say (who were “they” anyway?) that age compensates - as you get more wrinkly your eyesight goes so you can’t see the wrinkles! Damn modern science that offers such excellent sight correction. Yes, we are all so self-censorious about our perceived shortcomings, but another of those age-related benefits is one can cheerfully say “nah, so what, who cares?”
And actually, who does care? We all accentuate our shortcomings to ourselves, but most other people either don’t see them or don’t see them as shortcomings, so we worry over nothing.
Some unknown stranger in cyber world hiding behind a keyboard-name says something - their opinion is irrelevant, why let yourself get upset?
Now, where did I put my glasses … ?
Jillian, you are spot on regarding the therapeutic effect of being in green spaces. Shinrin Yoku is the Japanese practice of what we call "forest bathing" - spending quiet time in a forest or other wilderness area being mindful of the environment by focussing on what reaches us through our five senses - sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. The practice actually came about during a period of mass urbanisation in Japan and an almost simultaneous rise in mental health issues. Promotion of Shinrin Yoku became a proved antedote to depression and some other mental illlnesses.
On the matter of "people who might be offended by your nudity", I take a totally different approach. Perhaps it's because of the different cultural attitudes between Canada / USA and New Zealand, or maybe because very few people here are actually offended by nudity, or it could even be simply that our laws are relaxed on that issue - I really don't know. But I don't "cover up" when hiking or swimming in national parks, forests, rivers, etc. I see that as totally counterproductive. On the one hand you maintain that the human body is inherently decent, honourable, and in no way obscene or offensive - yet you convey and reinforce the very opposite message to clothed people by letting them see you hastily cover yourself! How is covering up showing respect? Your body is either respectable or it's not. Which of those messages do you wish to convey? You can't convey both!
Here's the thing. Some people will choose to take offence at the most trivial of things, whether it's your clothes, your religion, your diet, your beliefs and practices. Even if you chose never to be naked again, people will still be offended by some other aspect of your life or actions. So you need to decide whether or not you're going to spend your entire life walking tiptoe on eggshells around other people to avoid upsetting their stupid sensitivities.
If someone is going to take offence at your naked body, then fine - they can be offended! What's the worse that can happen to them? They won't die! They won't catch a disease! They won't even feel a thing! Try going around to your neighbour's house when they are playing rap music and tell them that rap music is offensive to you and they should turn it off. What will they do? Turn it off and play Brahm's Lullaby instead? Good luck on that one!
Of all the people, singles, couples, friends and family groups that I've encountered over the years that I've spent hiking naked in the great outdoors, I could probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of people that showed any negative reaction.
People are far less often offended by our nakedness than we imagine. I've come to realise that the fear of nudity actually causing offence is far more imagined that it is real. We assume the worst. That manifests itself when you say you "cover up when you are near people who MIGHT be offended by your nudity." You don't know they will - you just assume it. And I would wager that in the vast majority of cases your assumption will be wrong.
"f someone is going to take offense at your naked body, then fine - they can be offended! What's the worse that can happen to them?"
It isn't the worse that can happen to them we worry about. It is the worst that can happen to us. The state of California doesn't have a law against nudity. Only a small number of local communities have an ordinance that amounts to a ticket and a fine. That will not stop some people from being so mortally offended they decide to make your life miserable. It won't stop a police officer from arresting you. Even if you end up being released without charges, that's a very bad experience. Just being ordered to dress "or else" is bad enough.
This is not my imagination. It is a fact.
The US has a powerful strain of Puritanism that feels entitled to harass those they think go beyond the Pale. The US is currently immersed in a culture war and this is part of it. The opposite extreme is just as miserable to encounter. There are people on both extremes of the political spectrum who define simple nudity as sexual violence.
Legal or not, it is only "safe" in America to be openly nude in an event/place where nudity is expected or you are so remote an encounter is unlikely. I seek these out and don't push my luck. Most people here don't have access to them.
You make some very good points here, which I would like to consider for a bit. But off the top of my head, if someone were offended by my public nudity, they could call the cops -- and given the law here concerning public nudity, it might result in a trip to the local provincial police detachment and a subsequent court date.
I hear you, Jillian. I don't know how the legislative system works in Canada - I suspect it's not as complex as the USA, but more so that ours, as we are only one country and one state, so we don't have the complexities of Federal and Provincial levels of law. But, for us, a clarification of the law and how it is applied by police has been hugely beneficial to us - both in permitting normal clothes-free recreation in public spaces, while weeding out the perverts. Perhaps it's time the Naturist groups in Canada became united in a push to do the same?
As others have said, this is a great article! I especially liked Ms. Berry's comments about "earthing."
We talk a lot about "respecting non-naturists." But why shouldn't that respect go both ways? Why are we the ones who have to limit our freedom? How is it that our natural bodies are more offensive than, say, an abusive argument in the town square?
Happy June to YOU too.. Yours as well as the one of Beatrice's articles are very nice, very well said & compel us to think a lot about.
Naturism when practiced in Nature is unmatched, unparalleled with huge health benefits. It has a most potential to heal our soul, mind & the body because of the soothing effects..Here every naturist will not have a second thought.. However for every naturists, it may not be feasible to remain naked in nature due to many many factors..You & few of the naturists are most lucky enough to experience the soothing effect by virtue of the nakedness in nature. Best wishes to you & Beatrice to always have this soothing experience.
As far as the offending someone because of our nakedness is a topic which we may discuss for decades & we may not conclude. As society is hugely diverse & as there will be mix of people it's very difficult to judge as to how people will react.
Very beautiful scenic images in both the articles.
I totally agree and enjoy being naked in nature.
I received two separate articles this week on the "third space". The first was generally about what a third space is, the second the third space being nudity.
It so fit how I feel being naked in nature.
It is almost spiritual to me. The state of relaxation and connection to my being is amazing.
I am hoping to go to a large resort this season. Supposedly 500 acres a lake and forest, nothing but relaxation and communing with nature.
hopefully another month and it will be warm enough.
I have a question, Jillian. I have been under the impression that the Criminal Code and its application to situations of public nudity on public lands well away from town will not involve charges as long as sexual intent cannot be proved in the exposure. I have this advice from a constable at the local detachment near where I live in BC.
My question is whether you (or others) have a different understanding of the law. I don't want to be breaking the law, but understand that my nude hiking on trails well away from residential areas (i.e. "Crown" lands) is a right (freedom of expression) under the Charter.
Can you help me in this regard?
The laws may be different from province. For example, it is legal for women in Ontario to be topless in public, but it is illegal in Quebec.
As for nudity in Quebec, here is what the law says:
"Being nude in a public place without a valid reason is forbidden. It’s also forbidden to be nude on private property (such as a house) where other people can see you. For example, you can’t wash your car in your driveway if you have no clothes on."
I suppose you could take your chances on a trail in a provincial or federal park here. I haven't heard of anyone being arrested for it.
And what is "a valid reason"?
What was said about women being sexualized and men being seen as perverts. As a man that has always been foremost in my mind when naked in public places, where there are other people. That has never seemed right to me and it is an uncomfortable feeling always in the back of my mind. The only time I have truly been "comfortable" is when I've been in the company of a woman. Whether that be a girlfriend or just a friend. It's sad that it is this way. It definitely has restricted my nudism in the past and I'm sure will in the future
In my experience, if you are remote enough, nobody cares. I've been freehiking in the mountains around LA for 45 years. You're not a "pervert" unless you are likely to be seen. How you react to the other person also matters. I usually step well off the trail and do a quick coverup with a broad brimmed hat. If I say anything it is that I thought the trail was empty. Often they respond, conversation ensues and the hat goes back on my head.
There are also times and places where nudity is endemic, like Deep Creek Hot Springs. Or Naked Hiking day.
This may vary if you live in a conservative area.
It is probably true that if you have a female hiking partner (she doesn't have to be nude) you are less likely to be painted a threat. If you're in a group, the idea of being a nudist group will enter people's minds. It gives textiles a context to rationalize the nudity other than being a sexual predator.
There is a meme going about where a bunch of women who've never been on a remote trail in their lives will say they are more frightened of encountering a man in the woods than a bear. I don't know how many actually feel that way and how many are saying it to be fashionable but there are obviously women out there who consider men inherently threatening.
You tend not to meet those women in the remote wilderness. I am amazed the the number of solo female long hikers I meet on the PCT.
Thanks Fred. You mentioned naked hiking day. Can you tell me when that is?
It's on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. This year it is June 20th. I plan to be in the mountains north of LA. It isn't illegal in LA County but you can be harassed if you are too close to civilization, so I stick with remote trails..
Sincere thanks Jillian for sharing the article of Beatrice Berry...
I'll simply say that both Beatrice's and your comments are spot-on, and I totally relate.
Thanks so much for sharing!
i really hated my body as a teen and ya, but i think (in hindsight) it was (maybe) someone from the naturism community?? (it was years ago so can't even remember the place exactly) that wrote up an article that talked about how they began to really like their body just by being naked and SEEING themselves. i thought it was really strange but then i tried it one day (and again and again) and i wish more ppl were comfortable with nudity (myself included!) because it really changed my perspective of myself and my body! also these pictures are so nice!! is this also CA?